Steps

Both False and True

Washington D.C.

A single month had gone by and if anything the feeding frenzy had intensified. The legitimate and entertainment press, along with the paparazzi and general look-e-loos crowed the street in front of the new Themysciran Embassy. The idea of an almost mystical Queen and her Princess daughter suddenly appearing from seemingly out of nowhere had captured everyone's imagination. The public's thirst for any information on them seemed unquenchable. Cameras were at the ready to track and document their every movement. A deafening chorus of questions pierced the air every time they emerged.

Standing hidden behind an upstairs window curtain Diana took it all in. The crassness of it all struck her the most. Men mingled in the crowd trying to sell tee shirts with her and her mother's images on them. Police continually had to discourage the more aggressive of the hordes from digging through the refuse. What they expected to find in there, she had no idea. There was almost a palpable hunger on the crowds' part for any trivial bit of information they could in turn sell to a wider audience. Diana realized that she and her mother were just commodities in the crowd's eyes.

As she moved away from the window Diana found herself conflicted about everything in regards to her present situation. She was 18 and out in the wider world. It was everything she'd wanted, the only problem was how it occurred. Intellectually she understood what her mother had done was to save Themyscira from a crippling civil war. It took great strength and courage for Hippolyta to do it and Diana admired her mother more than ever for it. It just didn't feel right, though. Her mother was the Queen and had guided the Amazons from the very beginning, creating what all agreed was an almost paradise. Now she'd been cast aside without a fight. It was as if her Amazon sisters had forgotten all Hippolyta had done for them. A large part of Diana wanted to go back and fight for her mother, if not with swords than at least words.

Hippolyta had forbidden it. She had been adamant about the factions in the Senate hammering out a new system of governance without her or Diana's influence. That left Diana with little choice but to accept her mother's wishes. She didn't like it, one bit, but she had to accept it.

The other unforeseen consequence of her mother's actions was that it had altered and accelerated Diana's plans. When she won the contest to be champion of the Amazons the idea was she would have a year to get familiar with the outside world. In that year she could study and travel without the burden of everyone knowing whom she was. After that year the Amazons would start their opening to the outside world and Diana would be at the forefront o it.

Those plans had been altered and condensed so now Diana found herself madly rushing to try and catch up with the world she found herself in. She had a keen, young mind and a thirst to know everything. The sheer volume of what she had to assimilate was more than even she could overcome in such a short time. She felt weary and defensive towards the outside world. The last thing Diana wanted was to come off as some naïve innocent. It was a stereotype that would concentrate on her surface looks and dismiss everything else she might say or do. She was still the Amazon champion and wanted to represent that ideal.

Metropolis

Clark and the city desk editor, Eddie Morris sat across the desk from Henry Cameron. Clark's heart sank as he watched the older man's red pen cross out line after line of what Clark thought might be his first front page story. Morris had been pushing for it and Clark thought this might be the one. As the red pen mark out another paragraph, he knew the front page was out of the question.

It had become a theme of his first month working on the paper. Morris was a younger man and made no secret of his desire to modernize the paper. He was always pushing for more sensational headlines and more titillating stories. The reporters liked him because he always had their back. Henry Cameron liked him because he was at least honest about wanting his job, but Morris still followed orders even if it was a bit grudgingly.

"Henry, come on!" Morris groaned. "That's a page one story! It's a damn good story and the kid's worked his butt of on this angle!"

Cameron finished his edits and then sat back looking tired. He only glanced at Morris before addressing Clark.

"You didn't get it." He said it matter of factly, without much emotion.

"It's a page one story!" Morris repeated.

"Stick it in the metro section somewhere,' Cameron replied.

Morris grumbled a bit more and then nodded. Both he and Clark started to get up, but Cameron waved Clark to remain. Morris had been through this enough times to not even ask what was up. He simply left the two alone. Cameron dropped his red pen on the desk and took a deep breath.

"What was wrong with it, Mr. Cameron?" Clark finally asked. He might have some of the most amazing gifts of anyone on the planet, but Clark was also 21. He wanted to succeed at this, but he also wanted to succeed now. It frustrated him to no end that it was going so poorly.

"The story shows how passionate you feel about the subject, Clark," Cameron replied. "It covers most of the important stuff, the who, what, when and where, but it's missing the why."

"The why? Corporate greed, I thought that was obvious,' Clark stated.

"That's the easy answer, you know that, Clark,' Cameron dismissively said. "You paint his guy as a black hat villain, but you never tell us why he's doing it. You also never tell the readers why they should care."

"Again, I thought that was obvious."

"You didn't get it,' Cameron repeated. "You say he violated a few building codes, but guys like him can get that brushed under the rug. I can tell you think he's a greedy, rotten bastard, but unless you can explain to the readers why, no one will care about this story. You take a swing at someone this big and miss, you do something that shouldn't be possible, you make people feel sorry for them. Oh, you'll get Morris's headline, but if what you really care about is stopping this you'll have failed. Do you just want the glory or do you want to make a difference, Clark?"

"I'd kind of like both,' Clark sheepishly admitted.

Cameron gave him a smile.

"Well, why don't you try making a difference first, I'm sure the glory will come in time."

Clark didn't like it, but nodded that he understood.

"Look, you're on the right track, Clark, I've met this man and he is scum, but just saying it isn't enough,' Cameron continued. "He comes off as a caricature in your story, not a real person. People are more complex that than and so are their motivations. You have to explain that and why something is happening so the reader can understand and care about it. People read newspapers to get more than just the surface of a story. They want context and understanding. It's easy to titillate the readers with headlines, but if you want them to trust and rely on you, you have to give them more, facts and insights into the why of things."

"I'll try, Mr. Cameron."

Clark had listen to him, but he was still disappointed. As he got up to leave, Cameron added one more thing.

"I can write the stories for my reporters, Clark, so I have to trust them and I hate trusting anyone. You'll get there and when you do I'll publish the story on the front page, but it has to be the whole story, not just bits and pieces of it."

Clark nodded and exited the office.

Henry Cameron sat back and thought about the young man that had just left his office. Clark Kent was still rough around the edges and a little raw, but he had what it took inside to do extraordinary things, the older man believed. Cameron might be a little harder on him then most of the other reporters, but only because he wanted him to reach his true potential. He just hoped he was still here when he did. Cameron was tired, bone tired and it seemed like the strain was getting to him more and more these days. He felt the tingling in his arm again and slowly rubbed it until it went away.

He pushed these thoughts away, as he had a newspaper to get out.

Clark closed the door and started back towards the small desk he shared with two other reporters. He was mad at Cameron, but also mad at himself. He was so used to being able to do just about anything effortlessly, that to continue falling short in something important to him was so frustrating. He still felt the story was good, Morris had said so and he was the city desk editor, but old man Cameron wasn't giving an inch. Clark was impatient with the whole process. He wanted to start making a difference now. All of Cameron's rules and advice just seemed so out of date for the modern world. He wanted context, while the successful papers were hitting their readers over the head with the sensational stories and headlines. Clark knew the difference, but that didn't stop him from wanting the same things the rest of the reporters in the room wanted and wanting them now.

"It's still a damn good story, Kent,' Morris offered as Clark walked by. "If I were in charge I would have run with it on the front page. Just keep at it, kid."

"Thanks."

Clark picked up his bag from the desk and was just heading out when another voice called to him.

"A red pen kind of day, Clark?"

He turned to see Jimmy Olsen smiling at him. Olsen was a freelance photographer that sold his work to most of the papers in town. They had met a few weeks ago and since they were close to each other's age and in the same business they had become friends. Clark knew Jimmy's secret desire was a full time job on the Daily Planet. He supposedly had some connections and friends there, but Clark was a little skeptical.

"What makes you say that, Jimmy?"

"You just came out of old man Cameron's office and you have that look on your face."

"I didn't realize it was that obvious," Clark glumly replied.

"Hey, at least he speaks to you,' Jimmy offered. "The only thing he's ever said to me is Get Out Of My Office."

"That doesn't help," Clark said. "I really thought I had it this time, a front page story, you know?"

"Well, I tell you what, let's get out of here and go get a drink." Jimmy suggested. "You can bitch and moan over how unfair it is while you're buying."

"No, all the bitching and moaning isn't going to get the story where I want,' Clark admitted. "He was right, I didn't have it."

"So you don't bitch and moan, you can still buy me a drink, can't you?"

"I thought you were rich?" Clark asked.

'No, my folks are rich, I'm just a struggling, under-appreciated photojournalist."

"I don't feel much like a drink, Jimmy, but thanks."

Clark started to leave, but Jimmy kept walking with him.

"Oh, come on, Clark,' Jimmy implored. "I tell you what, I'll introduce you to some of the people I know on the Planet, what do you say?"

Clark looked at him skeptically.

"You really know people that work on the Planet?"

"Yes, what did you think I was making it up?"

"Well, yeah, I sort of thought it was bullshit to be honest,' Clark admitted.

"Well, now you have to go since you're questioning my honor,' Jimmy informed him. "I know all sorts of people at the Planet, I'll have you know!"

"All sorts of people?" Clark skeptically asked.

"Okay, just Lois Lane and Cat Grant, but Lois is a rising star over there,' Jimmy replied.

Clark had heard of Lois Lane.

"How do you know Lois Lane?"

"Would you believe the old Olson charm?" Jimmy said with a smile.

"No."

"Okay, I met her by accident,' Jimmy admitted. "I was taking some pictures down in the Suicide Slums and she was doing a story there. Suddenly all hell broke loose and I got the pictures while she got the story. She got Perry White over at the Planet to buy my stuff and we've been friends ever since."

"So you know Perry White too?" Clark asked.

"Yeah, but he likes me about as much as old man Cameron does,' Jimmy replied. "He just tolerates me because of Lois. So what do you say, let's go meet her, Cat and some of the others from the Planet for a drink?"

"I don't know,' Clark said. "Isn't she kind of a ball buster? I mean that's what I heard about her."

"Only if she doesn't like you,' Jimmy replied. "Look, it's always good to make connections at the Planet, Clark, you never know how long the Independent Star is going to last."

"I'm not interested in working anywhere but here,' Clark stated. "I want to get it right here."

"Well, I want a full time job anywhere, but things don't always work out the way you plan,' Jimmy offered. "Come, you owe me."

"How do I owe you?"

"How many people did you know in this city before me?"

"None."

"So I befriended you and help you fit in,' Jimmy explained. "I think that's worth a drink or two, don't you?"

"You're not going to give up until I buy you a drink, are you?" Clark asked.

"No."

"Then let's go."

Jimmy smiled and put his arm around Clark's shoulder.

"It's the Olson charm, gets them every time."

Washington

Hippolyta was just finishing up another interview with some of the foreign press. They were all foreign to her, but that's how Steve Trevor referred to them so she didn't see any reason to object. Just like her daughter, this was all new to Hippolyta. She was just as lost, but she had several thousand years of experience to fall back on. Being a diplomat wasn't really that different then being a Queen. One always had to be careful about what you said and whom you said it to. While she tried to catch up with the dizzying new world around her, she simply used the skills she had learned over the years.

She thanked the reporters and started to get up, signaling that the interview was over. Steve Trevor had been assigned by his government as a liaison to the Themysciran Embassy and he moved in to usher the reporters out. At first Hippolyta was weary of him, but as things were so overwhelming at first; she reluctantly had to admit he was a help. She just smiled as he herded them towards the door. They were almost gone, when one of reporters asked the question Hippolyta had been trying to avoid.

"Your daughter Diana, the princess hasn't given any interviews,' the woman said. "When can we expecting to talk to her?"

The smile never left Hippolyta's lips.

"When she's ready."

She didn't add anything to it and after a beat; Steve resumed getting them out of the room. Hippolyta sat back down and started to look through the seemingly mountains of invitations and correspondences that the embassy received daily. She heard the door closed and Steve Trevor's footsteps moving towards her. She looked up and saw a concerned look on his face.

"What is it now?" She asked.

"That question isn't going to go away, your majesty,' Steve replied. "The longer Diana puts it off the more attention it's going to bring to her. She's a bright young woman so she should get it over with."

"I know what my daughter is, Mr. Trevor,' Hippolyta stated. "She is bright, but she's also 18. What may seem simple to a man of 30 like yourself isn't always the case for someone so much younger."

They both knew this was a subtle dig at Steve for his obvious interest in Diana. So far he'd done nothing overt about it, but Hippolyta wasn't blind to the signs.

"Age aside,' Steve replied. "Interest in her isn't going to lessen with her not talking and we both know that. I would never push her into doing anything she didn't want to or felt she wasn't ready for, but I think the issue has to be brought to her attention."

Steve's answer had a subtle message of its own that Hippolyta couldn't help missing.

"I will talk with Diana,' she replied.

"That's all I'm asking." He said with a smile and then excused himself from the room.

Hippolyta sat back after he left and contemplated Steve. She may have been away from men for a long time, but some things hadn't changed. Her daughter was an exceptionally beautiful young woman and Steve Trevor was obviously attracted to her. While Hippolyta trusted Diana, she still had her reservations about men in general and Steve Trevor in particular. Men could certainly be charming and Trevor was no exception, but they could also be devious when they wanted something bad enough. Even the wisest women had been fooled by men before.

Rising from her seat, Hippolyta walked down the hallway to her daughter's room. When she opened the door, she found it littered with books of all shapes and subjects. Diana was sitting akimbo on the floor in the middle of all of it.

"Has neatness been the first sacrifice to this outside world?" Hippolyta asked as she closed the door behind her. Diana looked up from the book she was currently reading and blushed just a bit.

"I was going to straighten the room up when I was finished, ' she offered.

"And when do you think that will be?" Hippolyta asked as she lifted several books from one of the chairs and sat down.

"I don't know,' Diana admitted.

"There have been more requests for interviews with you."

"I'm aware of that,' Diana replied.

"You can't turn them down forever, Diana,' Hippolyta said. "I'm not suggesting you rush, but you will never learn everything you need to know in such a short time."

"I understand that, mother, I just want to be prepared."

"For what?" Hippolyta asked.

"My first interview will also be when most people make their first impression of me,' Diana explained. "I don't want them to be able to dismiss me. I don't want to be just a celebrity, where all the talk is about surface things. I won the right to be Champion of the Amazons and I want to do it right."

"I understand, I do, Diana, but mistakes are bound to happen,' Hippolyta replied.

"Yes, but I don't want to be defined by a mistake I foolishly make right from the start,' Diana stated. "I know many will see me as naïve and innocent, but I don't want them to mistake that for stupidity. If that happens then they can just dismiss me and if I can help it I'm not going to let that happen."

"All right,' Hippolyta replied. "I understand what you are saying and I even admire your resolve, but you've always wanted to see this world. You shouldn't have to lock yourself away from it. Whether you give an interview tomorrow or next year, I don't really care, but you should see some of this world you've always wanted to."

"I still want to, more than ever,' Diana admitted.

"Then we will figure out a way for that to happen,' Hippolyta said.